Process to reduce pilling of polyester knit fabrics

ABSTRACT

The pilling propensity of knit fabric from polyester staple fiber can be reduced by scouring the fabric at a temperature in the range of about 160° to 205° F. for from about 15 to 60 minutes in a 0.3 to 1.0% aqueous caustic solution containing about 0.001 to 0.1% of a quaternary ammonium salt of the formula: ##STR1## wherein R is an alkylene radical of 2 to 3 carbon atoms, R&#39; is H or phenyl, R&#34; is a C 12  -C 18  hydrocarbon radical, x is 2 or 3, y is 0 to 3, and Z -  is an anion, preferably the dimethyl sulfate quaternary ammonium salt of bis(hydroxy-tri-1,2-propyleneoxy-2-ethyl)tallowamine. After scouring, the fabric is normally rinsed, neutralized, rinsed again and dried.



